New Canaan lawyer convicted of attempted murder

Rob Varnon

Updated 10:49 pm, Friday, July 11, 2014

FILE – Jurors took little more than a day to convict former White House attorney J. Michael Farren on Friday, July 11, 2014 of trying to kill his wife in their New Canaan mansion in 2010.
Photo: File Photo

FILE – Jurors took little more than a day to convict former...

Former White House attorney J. Michael Farren, far right, waits in state Superior Court in Stamford on Thursday as a jury deliberated his fate on the attempted murder and assault of his wife in their New Canaan mansion in 2010. The jury returned a guilty verdict on all charges Friday.
Photo: Rob Varnon

John Michael Farren of New Canaan, center right, is arraigned in state Superior Court in Norwalk in January 2010 after he was charged with attempted murder and strangulation following a report of a domestic dispute. At center left is his attorney, Eugene Riccio.
Photo: Kerry Sherck

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STAMFORD -- In a case that took more than four years to come to trial, jurors took little more than a day to convict former White House attorney J. Michael Farren of trying to kill his wife in their New Canaan mansion.

The jury of three men and six women announced the verdict around 12:40 p.m. on the second day of deliberations. As the foreman responded "guilty" to the first charge, attempted murder, a person in the gallery said, "Oh, wow." A quick murmur went through the more than 25 people in attendance, including three of Farren's family members.

Once top legal counsel to two Bush presidents and the Xerox Corp. Farren stood and said nothing when he was handcuffed by marshals and escorted from the court room. A bond of $1 million was set. His attorneys said they were working on it, but that it would be up to the family to secure bond. He had not been released as of 3 p.m. Friday.

Family members who have been supporting him throughout the trial declined to comment.

The jury reached guilty verdicts on all counts, including first-degree assault and risk of injury to a child, stemming from the Farren's brutal attack on his then-wife, Mary Margaret Farren, on Jan. 6, 2010.

During the week-long trial, the victim was one of several witnesses called by the prosecution. She told the jury details that included how she was knocked unconscious more than once before Farren left her lying on the floor of their bedroom to go to the bathroom. That was when she made her escape in a car with their children, driving to another New Canaan residence.

She testified she suffered permanent nerve damage to the side of her face resulting in a lopsided smile. Jurors also heard from police and medics who responded to the incident that night.

Farren successfully blocked the start of this trial for four years by filing numerous motions and appeals, including two on Monday.

The verdict was welcome news to the lawyer for Farren's former wife.

"It's another important step in obtaining justice for the victim of this terrible crime," said attorney Paul Slager, who also represented Mary Farren in a civil suit against her husband. "It's gratifying having the verdict of a thoughtful jury."

The civil suit wrapped up well before the criminal proceedings, and Mary Farren was awarded $28 million, which her ex-husband is appealing.

The defendant was largely absent in both cases. In the criminal trial, he made the unusual request to be tried mostly in absentia, as hearing testimony about his attack on his wife would be too difficult for him, he said in his motion.

His co-prosecutor, David Cohen argued following the verdict that Farren's bond should be revoked to keep him in jail until his next court appearance for sentencing Sept. 11.

"He no longer has a right to bail," Cohen told state Superior Court Judge Richard Comerford Jr. Cohen said there is a concern that Farren, now facing up to 50 years in prison, was a danger to the public and his victim.

However, Comerford set bond after asking both the prosecution and defense if there was any indication Farren had ever attempted to violate conditions of his bail during the last four years.

Defense attorney Eugene Riccio said his client had never made an attempt to find his ex-wife and young children, while Farren's other defense counsel, Tim Moynahan, vouched for Farren's dedication to the court and said his client continues to fulfill his duty as a member of the bar.

Riccio did not say he was surprised the jury took more than a day to decide the case, when some observers thought it would be decided Thursday.